Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-09-12
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
Rev. A. n. Gilbert DISCOURSE on "PuY.
pose, ths True Test Of Noble
Manhood AID WGmanhoOd."
Crowded Church Listens AttentiveIy u
Iasnificsnt Discourse on Topic
of Universal Interest,


pie poured in End Messrs. L. a. Snow and
Howard Peak packed them into seats IN
omnibus style until every available space
was flied, when many were turned re
luctaGtiy way. R2v. A. \. Gilbert was
in excellent voice and was doubtless err
Unused oy the large snd epprecistive sud-
erce. The night was warm but people
did not mind tlst. The sermon wss II
the nature Of 8 lecture and was a happy
selection FOR the occasion, as many dele
gates from the various congregations OF
the city were present, and many more
who belonged 10 no congregation at all
were there and were attentive listeners,
The preacher took for his subject, after
the usual prayer end singing, Purpose.
the true test of noble manhood and
womanhOod." The following is 2 yer
batim report;
1 congratulate you, young men ana Wo-
men, that you live in the midst of the
broad glare, the marvellous stir, the still
unrealized possibilities, the provccatiOn
10 Hottest aspiration and nObIest work Of
this last quarter OF the queen century Of
the worlds experience.
It Is a grand privilege 20 live and work
and fglti and corqueII in an age ike
this. | nave no sympathy with the
mawkish sentimeptaIity which talks about
the good old times, and would fam 60
tack from the splendid, stirring realities
Of the present to the slOWnass and sleepi-
ness OF the far past.
We live in the age Of the ages, an age
Of action, an age OF discovery, an age
Of achievement. No century that has
preceded has equaled this, and it is not
likely that any TO follow, if any does fol
low, vii eNCellt.
We live years in days now. \ man Of
seventy to-day may be equal in accumu-
lation OF observation and experience, to
: netbUseiah Of the early centuries and,
having used his opportunities, die with
mere knowledge than he.
young man Of thirty now, may be
more than equal in breadth Of experience
and knowledge to the man Of sixty Of g
century ago.
Discoveries throrg the avenues OF
science We stand amazed and over
whelmed at the rapidItY with which they
crowd on each others heels. They seem
TO be el1oWing and shouldsring their way
up from the abyss Of the unknown, each
anxious TO he the first to get possession
of human brain as an avenue into light
and knowledge and at length tumbHng
into cur midst, 8 confused medley OF light
and sDlend1r that first ddZZles and BE-
wiiders, and then enrsptures and holds Us
spell-bound
Meantime, great upheavaIs are con
stGntly GCing on IN the not yet peTm8-
nently formed crust Of me world Of
science, like those that disturbed The great
esrthcrust before its outlines assumed
comparative permanently. The deductions
OF years are overthrow IN GmOment, and
CREST ranges of accurate scientific
thoughts stand where once were quag-
mires IF speculation and marshes o!
DOUBT.
50 rapid are the changes in some direc-
tons mat men OF science stand perpleX-
ed, and fe2g to commit themselves to any
theory lest the Complementary f&cts may
be discovered that shall make E complete
induction of one that was only apparent
ly so, and force shifting OF scientific ap-
pareI as rapid SIS thSt of harlequin in the
pantOmime.
The wlsest commits himself to nothing
but facts, dreadiDg premature Gpplica-
lion Of even the BaCOniSn method.
In the industrial arts ten years Consti-
tute en- epoch. a patentee must in
stantly derive all the profit possible
from MS invention. for another is almost
Immediately pushing it 10 one side IN the
race for popular favor. The Wild
est myths OF antiquity are be
coming sober reslizations of in
dustrial art. Puck has "put q girdle
round the world in forty minutes" The
maiden does whisper in her lovers ear
q score Of miles awsy, and the msgic
a y, Aay ~
messages q thousand miles apart.
Memnon's vocal statue is realized il
the phonogrsph and the enthusiast Of ma
ture listens to the thunderous stamping
of a fly's loot, the flow of the sap sEd the
rustic of the opening blossom, in the mi
crOphone.
The tlre- breathing dragon became re-
aliZition when we middle-0ged men were
infants, and there comes to US wierd
whisperipgs from the realms OF cleo
tricity that blanch the cheeks of stock
holders in accompanies with fear of com
ing time WREN even upon this earth shall
be preliminary fulfllment OF the prom
Use, "there shall be no night there" when
we shsu nave to close our window shut
tiers tight to shut out the garish light OF
the aruii 3ial day that science shsu make,
and which will make burglary one OF the
lost ATS.
Nations sre made and unmsde in day.
Within the life Of shy youngi man here
an empire mas been formed, kingdom
destroyed, and the dominant power o.
Europe has been transferred from ont
empire to another.
1t Is sn age of movement, progress, &C
tiCn. Ltggards must SO to the rear. Th'
spirit ii the age says to each ore
as tie policeman 10 poor Jo'
in Dickens, "Move ont" and Their
are but three alternatives-move on
stand aside and be nothing or be crushed
beneath the mcrciless wheels OF the gres
world-car.
1t is an age to bring the msnliness GU
CTS msn or show that he has none; 81
age TO inspire him with all grand asplra
tions or show that he is incapable OF them
81 gge to carry his lite-bsrque on throus
. voyage Of glory and to pert Of honor
o. cast it, hopeless, worthless wreck
on the shores of time.
In ery sge, but pre-emincntly IN sue
81 sse, to live without worthy object, il
disgrscefnl shame.
Did YOU ever see g boat sdrift? Rollet
t7-pe6 NV every vxxve N1al6jno q hi